I Wonder If I’ll Ever Post This.. I’m In Labour!!

Wow! I found this this morning and forgot I’d started it )fair enough as it was followed by another 30 hours of labour!) Heres an insight into my early labour:

Written Tuesday 1 December 2015 (Josh was born 2 December at 17.01)

Hi Everyone,

This is a random post, one that I’m not sure I’ll ever post because if I’m wrong and I’m not in labour I’ll look like a right idiot!!

So I couldn’t get to sleep last night – restless legs were playing up. But I also started to feel as though I had a sore tummy. I gave up in the end and got up to go and lie on the sofa with a cup of tea as I was worried I’d wake up my hubby. But as the time went on I could feel my bump getting tight and really starting to hurt! At first it hurt cause I could feel babies head lower and lower so it was short sharp pains very low down. But then I started to realise I was having cramps and a lot of lower back pain. At about 3am I decided to go back up to bed and try and sleep.I think I got about 4 hours and I woke up as my husband was leaving for work. I decided not to bother him just yet and tell him that I thought something was happening in case I was wrong and these pains went away.

So I got up at about 8 and had tea and some cereal. Still I was feeling cramps and back pain and every now and then it would intensify. I wasn’t timing anything at this point and decided to go to the supermarket to see if being active made a difference. It didn’t! I must have looked like I was in some pain because I had one chap in Tescos ask if I was ok and to tell him if I needed a chair or anything; what a sweetheart. But I knew in my head it was best to just go home. So I got back and I’ve spent the morning putting up my Christmas tree and trying to keep busy. But still I’m having these cramps and back ache. Around lunch time I started to feel really rubbish and shaky so I sat and had a decent lunch and decided I wanted a bath. I have heard before baths can slow down labour, and if this is labour I didn’t want to slow it down – bring it on (along with the pain killing drugs that I am so going to need), so I decided to ring one of the wonderful midwives and get some advice. Having explained how I felt since about 2am, she agreed it sounded like promising early labour signs, and that a bath was a good idea; apparently it’s a bit of a myth that a bath will slow it down. She told me if it was early labour I’d still have these pains when I got out the bath.

After a lovely hour in the bath, I’m now on my sofa. And yes, I’ve still got the pains and cramps so I’ve started to time them. They are still few and far between; maybe two every half an hour. I decided to write to keep myself distracted although they are getting a bit tougher to ignore. It’s funny the things that are going through my head. When I got out the bath, I noticed my toenail varnish was all chipped. All I could think was “I can’t go to hospital with those looking like that”! I was determined to try and paint them so I wouldn’t look like a total mess. Then as soon as I started to do it I just thought, what the hell am I doing – I can barely reach my feet and if anything I look even more of a mess now! So I gave up on that.

Right now (it’s 15.50 so I’ve been having these cramps for a good long while now) I am feeling fairly (!) calm, it’s almost as if I don’t want to get my hopes up. Ironically last night when I did get a couple of hours sleep, I had a dream I was holding my baby; I can’t remember if it was a girl or a boy but it was all chubby and cute. I am thinking maybe I’ll meet my baby in the next day or two. I’ve got the midwife tomorrow so, assuming this doesn’t progress too much over night, perhaps she’ll tell me I’m on my way. I hope so…..! I’m calm, relaxed but also a bit scared and overwhelmed! I hope that I get to add to this post and I really hope one day I post it – I like to think you guys would enjoy the read. Xxx

You’ve made me relive all those exiting and emotional feelings of being in labour and now I feel like I must have another baby! How exciting for you and congratulations on the new arrival. Well done for keeping so calm, I hope those 30 hours flew by (?!) #thebabyformula

Ahh huge congratulations on your baby boy!!! It’s brought back memories of what going into labour was like and that excitement that things were finally happening! I hope you are managing to rest and enjoy this precious time bonding with your baby! #KCACOLS

Aaaàh what a lovely post and might I add you’re one tough mama managing the pain so well on your own. I can’t believe your even managed to knock this post up in the mist of all this. Congratulations hon! Thanks so much for sharing this at #KCACOLS. I would love to see you again on Sunday! xx #KCACOLS

Wow, that’s commitment to your blog! Or maybe something to do to distract you??? Either way, I’m slightly jealous having been induced for all three deliveries, I’ve never had the ‘is it, isn’t it’ moment. Maybe there’s still time ha ha… Lovely to have you back at #coolmumclub – hope Josh is doing well! xx

Oh I love this post!! It is interesting to read what was going through your head while starting your labour!! It is amazing!! I laughed when you were saying that you would like to fix your nail polish!! haha with that belly just impossible!! LOL Congratulations again lovely!! Thanks so much for sharing this at #KCACOLS. I would love to see you again on Sunday! 🙂 x

What a lovely post! I can’t believe you wrote while having cramps 🙂 In saying that mine were less than 5 minutes apart when they started (about 15 minutes after my waters broke!) so mine was a bit different!!

It’s so interesting reading all your thoughts in the early stages, thanks for sharing, hope you’ll come back next week #TheBabyFormula

This is brilliant! I’m envious, I wish I had recorded my early labour time. I remember it all vividly – what I ate, the films I watched the walks I had! A lovely reminder for you. Hope the first six weeks have been ok #coolmumclub

This is A really lovely post, and it seems quite unique too! It’s interesting that you decided to blog your labour journey, and I found it fascinating that you wanted to paint your toenails, funny things happen when you’re trying to keep your mind off the bigger event! Welcome to the world Josh! Xxx #BloggerClubUkSassy

Awww what a great idea, its a bit mad initially isn’t it! You kinda know but have nothing to compare it to. You are very brave going to the supermarket. I ran myself a bath straight away!! lol. Thanks for joining us at #BloggerClubUK xx